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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 02 - Spring 2025T H E O T AY W ATER DISTRICT • P R OUDLY SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y AND TH E S OUTH B A Y SINC E 1956 A NE W SLETTE R FOR CUSTOMERS OF T HE O TAY WATER DISTRICT SPRING 2025 Dedicated to Community Service FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL (619) 670-2222 OR GO TO OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quartely by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at otaywater.gov. Copywright ©2021 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Ensuring Clean Water: From Source to Tap! In recognition of Water Awareness Month and Drinking Water Week, held in May, the Otay Water District is proud to spotlight its commitment to ensuring every drop of drinking water is clean and safe before reaching thousands of homes and businesses throughout its service area. The District takes a comprehensive approach to ensuring high-quality water through: • Advanced Treatment Process: It purchases 100% of its treated water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the San Diego County Water Authority, and the Helix Water District. The District and its suppliers continually test water at treatment plants and points in the distribution system to ensure compliance and safety for its customers. Using state- certified laboratories, water is analyzed for an entire range of elements to protect public health. • Rigorous Water Quality Monitoring: Every year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water set strict drinking water quality standards. The District is proud to meet or exceed all state and federal standards. • Transparency and Public Communication: Each year, the District publishes a comprehensive water quality report that details water sources, monitoring results, contaminant levels, and additional information about the water provided during the previous calendar year. The report is available at otaywater.gov/water-quality. PFAS PFOA and PFOS, types of PFAS or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, have recently made headlines in water quality news. However, as part of its routine and required testing, the District has found no presence of PFAS in the drinking water it provides. The District remains committed to delivering safe and reliable water while closely monitoring developments in water safety standards. Tap vs. Plastic Bottled Water Choosing between drinking tap water and plastic-bottled water is a personal decision that may impact our wallets, the environment, and our collective future. It is important to know that you have more affordable options than bottled water. Why choose tap water? • It’s convenient and widely available at home, in restaurants, public fountains, etc. • It’s more affordable since plastic bottled water can cost up to 1,000 times more than tap. • It reduces plastic waste, which means no need for single-use plastic to end up in landfills. While both are subject to regulations, tap water is regulated by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act, ensuring rigorous safety standards. Plastic bottled water is regulated as a food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Though some bottlers may voluntarily exceed FDA standards, bottled water and public water supplies in the United States must meet similar standards for safe drinking water. For more information, visit drinktap.org. District lab analyst performing testing. Helpful Guides to Refresh Your Landscape If you’re looking for a curated list of plant gems that can be found at local nurseries, are non-invasive, easy to care for, and water-wise once established, check out the San Diego County Water Authority’s Nifty-50 guide. These plants add vibrant colors and unique textures to your outdoor space. In addition, explore the Homeowner’s WaterSmart Guide for various landscaping tools and ideas, including plant selection, placement, and budgeting for landscape retrofits. Visit sdcwa.org/conservation/resources. Rebate Spotlight: High-Efficiency Clothes Washers Did you know laundry uses about 15% of your home’s indoor water, especially during the warmer months? Upgrade to a high-efficiency washer (HEW) to save water and energy. A HEW uses significantly less water than a regular washer to do the same amount of laundry, saving about 14 gallons per day or more than 150,000 gallons throughout the washer’s lifetime. To apply for a $145 rebate, visit otaywater.gov/rebates. Internships at the Garden The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon offers college internship opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in various fields of study, including education, horticulture, and communications. Interns will work alongside experienced staff, gaining hands-on skills and practical knowledge that support their area of study. Learn more at thegarden.org/intern. For information on Garden volunteering, please contact amelia@thegarden.org. Protecting Your Water: Preventing Cross-Connections The District safeguards its water through a robust cross-connection control program, which follows local, state, and federal regulations. Cross-connection is an actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public water system and any source or distribution system containing liquid, gas, or other substances not from an approved water supply. Backflow is an undesired or unintended reversal of the flow of water and/or other liquids, gases, or other substances into a public water system’s distribution system or approved water supply. The simplest way to prevent backflow is to eliminate cross- connections. However, in some cases, it may not be avoided. When potential hazards exist at a site, the District requires the installation of a Backflow Prevention Assembly (BPA). These mechanical devices are installed on the District’s service line, typically near the meter or point of service, and can handle various hazard levels and backflow scenarios. The District determines the appropriate BPA for each site. However, it’s important to note that the customer owns and maintains these devices. Certified professionals are required to test each BPA at least once a year to remain compliant with state law. Together, we can ensure our community continues to enjoy safe, clean, and reliable water. For more information, visit otaywater.gov/ backflowcross-connection. Nan StermanWaterwise Gardener Garden Critters – Good or Bad? They may “creep or crawl” or even fly, but don’t freak out. Many people panic about any insect, spider, roly-poly, or other tiny critter in their garden. They automatically assume that anything that creeps, crawls, flits, or burrows is “bad.” Reality check: nothing could be further from the truth. Most garden critters are great for your garden! Butterflies, bees, spiders, and even flies are very important pollinators, without which we’d have no fruits or vegetables like squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. Even wasps are pollinators! Ever find big, thick, white grubs in your garden beds? They’re not there to eat your plants. These grubs only eat dead, decaying plant parts, not living roots. As they burrow through the soil, they leave tiny tunnels for critically important airflow. Think of them as giant beneficial earthworms, not pests. There are grubs to be concerned about, but only those that live in lawns and feed on grass roots. Grubs in your vegetable and flower gardens are “good.” What should you be concerned about? A few individuals of any pest won’t cause permanent, long-term damage. Moreover, the presence of natural predators keeps garden pests in balance, so be patient and observe first. If a few problem bugs become a large infestation, you may need to act. To decide on a treatment, first identify the pest. Then, match the treatment to the pest. Here is a list of common garden pests and ways to deal with them. • Snails/Slugs – These “slimy” critters prefer damp, dark spaces. Eliminate hiding places (debris, empty pots, pieces of wood, rotting fruits, etc.) and reduce watering to make your garden less hospitable. If there’s no improvement after a few weeks, sprinkle Sluggo® around the infested area. Sluggo® is iron phosphate, which is toxic to snails and slugs but not to people or pets. Though, of course, it’s not to be eaten. • Roly Polies – These tiny gray critters look covered in armor. Touch them, and they roll into a tight ball, hence the common names “roly-poly” and “pill bug.” In the garden, they are both helpful and harmful. These recyclers eat decaying organic matter and aerate the soil as they burrow through. Sometimes, they eat vegetable seedlings and chew holes in strawberries. When the damage gets serious, treat with Sluggo Plus® – a version of the Sluggo® that includes Spinosad bacteria, which kills roly polies, too. • Whiteflies and Giant Whiteflies – Tiny white flies form colonies on the undersides of leaves. Some spin long, white, beard-like filaments. Natural garden predators control small populations. With larger infestations, wash flies off with a hard spray of water on top and undersides of the leaves. Repeat as needed. If that doesn’t help, spray with light horticultural oil and cover the soil under the infected plants with a thick layer of worm castings. • Argentine Ants – While native ants aerate the soil, decompose organic matter, and recycle nutrients (all good), invasive Argentine ants form underground colonies that undermine roots and kill plants. Worse, these ants “farm” sucking insects (see below), depositing them on citrus and other plants. Control invasive ants with Terro® ant bait stations around stems and trunks. If that doesn’t work, use the stronger Advion® Ant Bait gel stations. • Sucking Insects with sharp mouth parts suck the liquid out of plant leaves and stems. Ants “farm” these critters, carrying them from plant to plant. They exude (poop out) a tiny drop of sweet liquid, “honeydew,” that ants collect to feed their colonies. Control of the ants is the first step to eliminating sucking insects. – Aphids: Tiny, soft-bodied critters are green, black, white, yellow, or red. A few aphids are easy to squish between your fingers. A big infestation can damage or kill a plant; wash it away with a very sharp spray of water on the tops and undersides of the leaves and along the stems. Repeat every few weeks to interrupt their reproductive cycles. – Mealy Bugs: Squish the soft bodies of these tiny, fuzzy-looking white bugs with your fingers. For worse infections, use a soft toothbrush to brush them off stems, leaves, or flowers or wash them away with a sharp spray of water. For serious infestations, treat plants with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Repeat every few days to interrupt their reproductive cycle. – Scale: These hard-bodied brown insects attach to branches and leaves. Scratch them off (gently) with your fingernail or remove them with a soft toothbrush. For serious infestations, smother the scale with a spray of light horticultural oil. Repeat as necessary. • Tomato Hornworms – Beautiful white, green, and yellow striped hornworms are the larval form of the five-spotted hawkmoth, which are important pollinators. These worms can strip the leaves off a large tomato plant in short order. Be alert for tiny black balls (worm poop) on the ground under tomato plants to clue you into their presence. Or take an ultraviolet light outside at night –worms glow bright white. Pick off the worms and move them elsewhere in the garden or set them on a table for birds to find and eat. • Spider Mites – In the heat of summer, these tiny red critters set up shop in dust-covered leaves. There, they spin disorganized “webs” between leaves and stems. They also suck sap from the plant leaves. The best treatment is to wash spider mites away with a very sharp spray of water on the tops and undersides of the leaves, as well as along the stems. Prevention? Rinse leaves off from time to time. Notice that this list doesn’t include any other worms. Yes, worms and caterpillars can cause some damage, but the adult forms are important pollinators, which are disappearing fast, so it’s better to tolerate a bit of damage than kill off the pollinators. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours, is the author of several books, and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV, waterwisegardener.comRead more by Nan Sterman at otaywater.gov/waterwise-gardener FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the board meeting room at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Spring Valley, CA 91978. The public is encouraged to attend or watch the live stream at otaywater.gov. PresidentJose Lopez, Division 4jlopez@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov TreasurerFrancisco X. Rivera, Division 1frivera@otaywater.gov Board MemberDelfina Gonzalez, Division 2dgonzalez@otaywater.gov Board MemberMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL (619) 670-2222 OR GO TO OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quartely by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at otaywater.gov. Copywright ©2021 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Garantizando agua limpia todos los días: Desde su origen hasta el grifo En reconocimiento al Mes de Concientización sobre el Agua y la Semana del Agua Potable que se celebran en el mes de mayo, el Distrito de Agua de Otay reafirmó su compromiso de garantizar que cada gota de agua potable es limpia y segura antes de llegar a miles de hogares y negocios de toda su área de servicio. El Distrito ha adoptado un enfoque integral para garantizar agua de alta calidad mediante: • Proceso de tratamiento avanzado: El Distrito compra el 100% de su agua tratada al Distrito Metropolitano del Agua del Sur de California, la San Diego County Water Authority y el Distrito de Agua Helix. El Distrito y sus proveedores analizan continuamente el agua en las plantas de tratamiento y en los puntos del sistema de distribución para garantizar el cumplimiento y la seguridad a sus clientes. El agua se analiza, mediante laboratorios certificados por el estado, para detectar una amplia gama de elementos con el fin de proteger la salud pública. • Monitoreo riguroso de la calidad del agua: Cada año, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la División de Agua Potable de la Junta Estatal de Control de Recursos Hídricos establecen estrictos estándares de calidad para el agua potable. El Distrito se enorgullece de cumplir o superar todos los estándares estatales y federales. • Transparencia y comunicación pública: Cada año, el Distrito publica un informe completo sobre la calidad del agua que detalla las fuentes de agua, los resultados del monitoreo, los niveles de contaminantes e información adicional sobre el agua suministrada durante el año calendario anterior. El informe está disponible en otaywater.gov/calidad-del-agua. PFAS El PFOA y el PFOS, tipos de PFAS o sustancias perfluoroalquiladas y polifluoroalquiladas, han sido noticia últimamente sobre la calidad del agua. Sin embargo, como parte de sus análisis rutinarios y obligatorios, el Distrito no ha detectado la presencia de PFAS en el agua potable que suministra. El Distrito mantiene su compromiso de brindar agua segura y confiable, a la vez que monitorea de cerca la evolución de las normas de seguridad hídrica. Agua del grifo vs. Agua embotellada de plástico Elegir entre beber agua del grifo o agua embotellada en plástico es una decisión muy personal que puede afectar nuestra economía, el medio ambiente y nuestro futuro como sociedad. Es importante saber que existen opciones más asequibles que el agua embotellada. Entonces, ¿por qué elegir agua del grifo? • Es práctica y está ampliamente disponible en casa, restaurantes, fuentes, etc. • Es más asequible. El agua embotellada en plástico puede costar hasta 1,000 veces más que el agua del grifo. • Reduce los residuos plásticos, lo que significa que no es necesario que los plásticos de un solo uso acaben en los basureros. Si bien ambas están sujetas a regulaciones, el agua del grifo está regulada por la EPA bajo la Ley de Agua Potable Segura, lo que garantiza que pasa por rigurosos estándares de seguridad. El agua embotellada de plástico está regulada como producto alimenticio por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés). Aunque algunos embotelladores pueden superar voluntariamente los estándares de la FDA, el agua embotellada y los suministros públicos de agua en Estados Unidos deben cumplir estándares similares para garantizar la seguridad del agua potable. Para más información, por favor visite drinktap.org. Analista de laboratorio del Distrito realizando pruebas.